Orientation

The Skidmore in Spain program begins with the pre-departure orientation held on the
Skidmore College campus in Saratoga Springs, New York, during the semester prior to
studying abroad. Our Director in Spain, Susan Sánchez Casal, Ph.D., visits the campus
to meet with each student individually and also with the group as a whole. During
her visit, students receive the following materials:

General pre-departure handbook

A copy of the "Guía del Estudiante," a booklet designed and edited by the program
containing important practical information

A pre-orientation guide in English containing "General Information," "Rules and Regulations,"
and "A Brief Orientation to Spain"

A phrase book "Hablar en Madriz," designed to help the students with the colloquial
use of the Spanish language in the specific situations they will be encountering (family,
university, shopping, telephone etc.)

Prior to their arrival in Spain, students on the Skidmore Program receive the addresses
of Spanish students that also study at the University and who are interested in getting
to know English-speaking students. Students make initial contact by correspondence
with their Spanish pen pals before arrival to Spain. Once they have started the program
in Spain, they attend a tapas and wine party that is organized by the staff so that
both groups can get to know each other. The Spanish students help facilitate the integration
of our students in the University and into Spanish culture as a whole, while Program
students help the Spaniards with their English.

Once in Spain, students will have a two days of orientation will be conducted in Madrid,
and will include both students based in Madrid and Alcalá. These first days will consist
of ice-breaking/group activities and presentations/discussions about program guidelines,
host families, security and intercultural adaptation. Following this two-day orientation,
students will be picked up by their host families to settle in. Orientation activities
specific to Madrid and Alcalá will continue over the following week.

Activities

Excursions and cultural activities are an integral part of the Skidmore program. We
plan guided trips of historic cities that are led by experts and serve to expose students
to some of Spain's historic and artistic treasures found off the beaten tourist track.

In the past, we have visited the medieval Castilian towns of Pastrana and Sigüenza;
the Andalusian cities of Granada, Úbeda, and Baeza to study the remains from their
Arabic past; the wine country of La Rioja situated along the Route of Saint Jacques;
the Renaissance towns of Cáceres and Trujillo; the medieval city of Guadalupe; and
the Roman ruins in Mérida.

Because we strongly believe in the benefits of independent exploration, we encourage
our students to take advantage of the many cultural opportunities available throughout
Alcalá and Madrid. To this end, we subsidize a variety of extracurricular activities
and cultural travel for our students. In addition, monthly attendance of plays, films,
exhibits, concerts, and lectures supplement students' course work.

The Program provides a monthly list of cultural activities in Madrid that students
are encouraged to attend with their Spanish friends or family and whose costs are
fully reimbursed. These activities include visits to art exhibits, theater and dance
productions, Spanish films, Spanish concerts, and lectures.

In addition, students are encouraged to pursue extracurricular activities of their
choice. In the past, students have chosen to get a pool or gym memberships or take
a local ceramics, guitar, cooking, or dance lessons.

In order to make these opportunities accessible to all students, we have a reimbursement
program to offset the costs